Di Easter Monday clash between Derby County and Stoke City for Pride Park end goalless, but di big story na di injury wey hit Derby striker Patrick Agyemang. Di match wey kick off 3pm sharp, see two teams wey dey fight for different things dis season. Derby dey look for play-off spot, while Stoke under Mark Robins just wan finish strong.
From di beginning, atmosphere for ground dey electric. Stoke fans sell out dia away allocation, dem dey sing “Mark Robins’ barmy army” as di game start. Derby fans too dey show support, especially as manager John Eustace don ask for big atmosphere. But as di first half dey go, something tragic happen.
Patrick Agyemang, wey just come into di starting lineup, try to control ball with chest but land bad. Di incident look innocent, but di striker immediately show serious pain. Medical team rush enter, carry am on stretcher with face cover with hands. Di whole stadium atmosphere just die instantly.
DerbyshireLive reporter Leigh Curtis yarn say, “Agyemang being carried off has killed the atmosphere. Was a totally innocuous incident. He went to control a ball with his chest but landed funny. Appeared to be his left ankle and I wonder if it’s his Achilles.” Dis na serious blow for Derby, especially with World Cup around di corner.
Jaydon Banel come replace Agyemang, but di damage don done. Di injury affect di flow of di game, as both teams struggle to create clear chances. Stoke, wey don lose dia last four away matches, look content with draw. Mark Robins probably for snap your hand off for 0-0 draw as di game dey go.
For di midfield, Stoke face familiar problems. Tomas Rigo start as number 10, but di player never really look natural for dat position dis season. Bae Junho dey bench, and when Rigo get injury later in di game, Junho come replace am. Di midfield department don be problem for Stoke all season, with changes almost every week.
Derby try to take advantage of di situation. Carlton Morris prove to be handful for Stoke defense. At one point, Morris get chance wey just fall nicely to am centrally, and e clobber am against di post. Di ball bounce away, and Stoke escape. Morris later send Ben Brereton-Diaz clean through on goal, but di striker touch too heavy, and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu collect easily.
Set pieces become important as game dey go. Derby don score plenty set pieces dis season, and Stoke defense dey struggle. Matt Clarke almost beat Bazunu to punch from corner, but di keeper manage to clear. Referee Elliot Bell dey busy, book Syd Agina for hold on Morris after earlier give warning to Derby player for cynical foul.
As second half dey go, chances dey come. Joe Ward try long range shot wey go low and wide. Later, Morris flick effort from Ward corner at front post, but ball go wide. Stoke get dia own chances too – Sorba Thomas long throw cause problems, and Ki-Jana Hoever (wey reporters call Bocat) thunder shot wide of upright.
Di game end 0-0, result wey help nobody too much. Derby remain four points off play-off spots after losing to Coventry City on Friday. Stoke continue dia decent form under Robins, but dia away struggles continue. Di real story remain Agyemang injury, with more update expected after di game.
For team news, Stoke line up with Bazunu in goal, defense of Agina, Bocat, Phillips and Lawal. Midfield feature Nzonzi, Seko and Rigo, with Thomas, Rak-Sakyi and Cisse upfront. Derby start with O'Donnell in goal, defense of Murkin, Clarke, Agyemang and Sanderson. Midfield include Ozoh, Ward and Travis, with Morris, Brereton-Diaz and Clark attacking.
Injuries affect both teams before di match. Derby miss Rhian Brewster for rest of season with knee injury. Sondre Langas and Max Johnston dey training but not ready for full return. Goalkeepers Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and Josh Vickers dey sidelines, while Sam Szmodics miss after knock unconscious playing for Ireland.
Di match show how Championship season dey reach climax. Every point matter, every injury count. For Derby, di Agyemang blow na serious one, especially as dem dey push for top six. For Stoke, di point away from home na small positive, but dia midfield problems remain obvious.
As fans dey leave Pride Park, di talk na about Agyemang. Di striker wey just come into team, now face uncertain future with serious ankle injury. World Cup dey corner, and dis injury timing na worst. Football can be cruel sometimes – one innocent landing, career can change.
Di Championship continue to show why e be one of di most unpredictable leagues for world. Today na another chapter for di story of two clubs with different ambitions, but shared disappointment after 90 minutes of football wey produce no goals but plenty drama.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
